TAG Heuer: Carrera Chronograph Glassbox

The timeless icon is back. Since its introduction in 1963, the TAG Heuer Carrera has remained “the chronograph” par excellence. In six decades has set off the standards for success and good taste following legends of the automotive, cinema and music world.  

This year, during Watches & Wonders 2023 Exhibition and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Carrera series, Tag Heuer renews itself and introduces two new models: the TAG Heuer Carrera chronograph «Glassbox» and the tourbillon chronograph. Design and automatic caliber are carefully updated while preserving the Carrera DNA and the original Jack Heuer vision of the watch.

NOMEN OMEN – WHEN A NAME MARKS A DESTINY

History teaches us that TAG Heuer Carrera has become legend. On the occasion of a timekeeping, the engineer and managing director of the company Jack Heuer went to the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. There, he had the opportunity to meet the Rodríguez couple, who told him about a race in Mexico called the Carrera Panamericana. An international race long beyond 3,000 kilometres, as thrilling as it was dangerous, which took place for five years from 1950 to 1954. Fascinated and intrigued by the spirit of this competition, Jack decided to name his innovative line of wrist chronographs “Carrera”. And so it was, in 1963 the Heuer Carrera made its launch. The first chronograph designed to allow pilots to read the time with a single pasglance in the heat of the action. Yesterday as today, “nomen omen” a name bonded to a destiny.

THE REBIRTH OF TAG HEUER CARRERA

The Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph returns in two new configurations: a “vintage inspired” one, accompanied by the iconic «reverse panda» dial with date display at 12 o’clock and a certainly more contemporary one with a blue dial, date display at 6 o’clock and a different application of the seconds sub dial scale. 

The stylistic research and attention to detail are amazing. The case, despite the diameter updated to 39 mm, stays close to the past «glassbox» design, and the sapphire crystal retains the typical curvature of the domed hesalite glasses of the first Heuer Carrera models of the 1970s. The flange and indexes have also been curved, thus emphasizing the aesthetics and legibility of the watch.

THE CASE AND DIALS

The ergonomic polished steel case, with taut sides and sturdy lugs, is now complemented by newly re-shaped pushers, designed to ensure maximum efficiency during use. A further progress can be seen by observing the domed sapphire crystal. The glass has improved so that the profile and silhouette of the watch flow seamlessly onto the tachymeter scale that runs along the dial edge and into the case. The overall effect is unique: a decisive, technical but at the same time refined and elegant design.

Tag Heuer for the new Carrera chronographs offers two variations: a model with a «reverse panda» dial, black with a circular brushed finish and silver «azuré» subdials and one with a blue dial with the same finish and a 6 o’clock permanent seconds indicator. The two configurations respectively represent the two different “souls” of the watch. The first, historically inspired and careful to preserve the functions and details of the iconic references 2447 NS and 3147 «Dato 12» (the first Heuer Carrera with chronograph and calendar functions). The second more contemporary, fresh and in step with the new watchmaking trends. 

Both iterations are powered by the in-house automatic chronograph caliber TH20-00, an update of the Caliber Heuer 02. The new movement, visible through the watch’s sapphire crystal screw-down caseback, has a rotor with bidirectional winding and a power reserve of no less than 80-hour.

TAG HEUER CARRERA TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH

Among the novelties, Tag Heuer also presents the Carrera Tourbillon Chronograph. The new timepiece “interrupt” the Swiss company’s tourbillon tradition and differs from previous models in materials and dimensions. Specifically, the case is now in steel with a diameter of 42 mm  characterized by a robust profile and re-shaped pushers.

The blue stylish dial, on the other hand, has a circular brushed finish with deep azuré chronograph subdials surrounded by high-contrast silver rings. On it, the flange and the indexes are slightly curved to mirror and complement the crystal’s edge, enhancing the watch’s elegant feel.

The design is also elevated by numerous subtle details such as the orange, triangular shape, chronograph’s central seconds hand, a clear reference to 1960s racecar dashboards instruments and the minutes scale marked by detailing, still orange, at over each hour marker.

The watch therefore shares the shapes and style of the new generation Carrera Chronographs with a unique exceptional detail, an opening at 6 o’clock which reveals Tag Heuer’s skillful knowledge in mastering the quintessential complication in watchmaking world, the tourbillon.

The novelties also include the brand new COSC-certified TH20-09 self-winding manufacture caliber. Like the TH20-00, the TH20-09 is the result of simultaneous work between the Swiss company expertise and the recommendations of Carole Forestier, director of TAG Heuer movements. The new tourbillon movement, also visible through the watch’s transparent caseback, has a rotor with bidirectional winding and a 65h power reserve.

PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

All the models are fitted with a calfskin leather strap (racing-style perforated leather in the «reverse panda» version and smooth finish in the blue and tourbillon version) with folding clasp and two safety buttons. The Tag Heuer Carrera chronograph new lineup is available from April 2023 at the price of €. 6,500 while the 42 mm Tourbillon Chronograph will be available from May 2023 at the price of €. 23,000.

By Luca Barone